One should never give up or celebrate before crossing the finishing line, as proven by two runners topping the podium at the Moscow International Peace Marathon.
After running neck-and-neck for the whole race – as the rain pelted down in central Moscow – Russia's Fedor Shutov pulled away from compatriot Mikhail Kulkov.And, with the finishing line in sight, he raised his arms in celebration only for Kulkov to burst through in the final meters.The photo-finish couldn’t separate the duo so they shared the gold medal.The thundering rain didn't deter thousands of runners from taking part, but might have prevented Shutov from hearing his rival's approach – though the athlete believes the bad weather was a blessing in disguise.“I think having the rain during the marathon only helped us,” he said. “And, thanks to Mikhail, we worked together and got a great result. I am very pleased with today's race.”The Moscow International Peace Marathon is an annual event which began in 1980. The marathon starts from Vasilievsky Spusk on Red Square and runs along the Moskva river bank.